NFL
Former Cowboys lineman and Florida national champion Charlon Dorsey died Monday of complications from a stroke, according to the Jacksonville-Florida Times-Union.
He was 46 years old.
“I'm speechless when I think about my brother,” said Terry Parker High School coach Mike Holloway, who coached under Dorsey. “We've been doing this for a very long time. We see kids that we coached now that are coaching now or have kids of their own.
“We have built a tradition through hard work and self-effort, and we have taught our children that through hard work and dedication, you can succeed and be successful.”
Dorsey was a standout at the Bolles School in Florida, earning All-State first-team 4A honors as a defensive tackle three times.
Dorsey attended Florida State University and recorded 11 tackles and one sack as a freshman in 1997 before converting to right tackle.
He was a member of Florida State's undefeated national title team in 1999, led by legendary coach Bobby Bowden.
A starter in 2000, he was named All-ACC after helping block quarterback Chris Weinke, who threw for 33 touchdowns and more than 4,000 yards en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Dorsey was a seventh-round pick of the Cowboys in the 2001 NFL Draft.
During his rookie season, he played in nine games, including two starts.
He was waived early in the 2002 season and later acquired by the expansion team Houston Texans.
After his playing days, he coached at the high school and middle school levels in Florida.
At his alma mater, Matthew Gilbert Middle School, he had an 87-5 record in 10 seasons, winning three championships.
He was hired in 2018 by Parker High School, which had not had a winning season since 2008, and led the team to a district championship in just his second season.
“He took care of the kids. His first priority was the kids. He fought tooth and nail for them. He was a great example of a man. He took care of the kids. I could relate to that,” Parker Athletic Director Brad Bernard said. “No child came up to him and told him something he didn't understand. He could empathize with them. I think he saved some children. …If a child When I came to him and said I was going through a tough time, he encouraged me to get through it because he had been through it.”
